BRIEF—Merck gains new EC approval for Keytruda

The European Commission (EC) has approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck & Co’s $20 billion+ anti-PD-1 therapy, as a monotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are at high risk of recurrence following complete resection and platinum-based chemotherapy.

“Today’s approval demonstrates our continued progress to help more patients living with certain types of lung cancer in Europe, treating them earlier in their disease when it may be the most impactful,” said Dr Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories.

“We are proud that in Europe, Keytruda now has five approved indications in non-small cell lung cancer, in both earlier and advanced stages of disease,” he added.

This approval allows marketing of this Keytruda regimen in all 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Northern Ireland.